Match Feed

So far in the fourth quarter, the Giants lead the inside 50s 104 but have been outscored 2.1 to 0.4.

Q4 20:26

BEHIND GiantsJed Lamb scores a behind from a Stoppage.

Q4 18:11

GOAL BombersKyle Langford scores a goal from a Kickin.

Q4 17:52

BEHIND GiantsJames Stewart scores a behind from a Stoppage.

Q4 15:28

BEHIND GiantsAdam Treloar scores a behind from a Turnover.

Q4 15:43

There has been seven minutes without a score, the longest scoring drought of the game.

Q4 14:36

Essendon has started to win some clearances, winning the count eight to one for the quarter.

Q4 08:51

RUSHED BEHIND to Bombers from a Stoppage.

Q4 06:22

GOAL BombersKyle Langford scores a goal from a Stoppage.

Q4 04:12

BEHIND GiantsHeath Shaw scores a behind from a Turnover.

Q4 03:06

Matt Buntine has taken four of the Giants nine intercept marks so far tonight.

Q4 02:47

James Gwilt leads the Bombers in disposals (17) and score involvements (four). He also ranks third for them with four intercept possessions.

Q4 00:00

Q4 is now underway.

Q3 28:53

Essendon was more competitive that quarter, being outscored by just two points. It won the disposals and uncontested possessions but was well beaten in contested possessions and clearances.

Q3 28:53

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

Q3 27:26

BEHIND BombersJonathan Giles scores a behind from a Kickin.

Q3 27:50

BEHIND GiantsTom Downie scores a behind from a Stoppage.

Q3 23:21

Patrick Ambrose records his seventh tackle for the game and is rewarded with a free kick resulting in a goal. Along with Zach Merrett he is the leading tackler on the ground.

Q3 23:21

GOAL BombersPatrick Ambrose scores a goal from a Stoppage.

Q3 21:29

The Giants are winning the centre clearances 14 to five across the game.

Q3 21:59

GOAL BombersJason Ashby scores a goal from a Turnover.

Q3 19:27

Heath Shaw providing plenty of drive with 15 disposals (13 kicks) and leading all players for metres gained so far across the game.

Q3 18:29

GOAL GiantsAdam Tomlinson scores a goal from a Turnover.

Q3 16:27

Essendon is using the ball better this quarter with a disposal efficiency of 77 per cent, 12 per cent higher than the first half.

Q3 15:35

GOAL GiantsCam McCarthy scores a goal from a Turnover.

Q3 11:28

GOAL BombersClinton Jones scores a goal from a Turnover.

Q3 09:53

GOAL BombersJared Petrenko scores a goal from a Turnover.

Q3 08:16

Essendon InterchangeJames Magner was substituted for Mitch Clisby.

Q3 08:30

BEHIND GiantsAdam Tomlinson scores a behind from a Stoppage.

Q3 07:23

The Giants have won five clearances from stoppages in the forward 50 this game and have scored from each of these.

Q3 06:43

The Giants have kicked the first two goals of the quarter and Essendon are yet to touch the ball in its forward half.

Q3 05:26

GOAL GiantsJames Stewart scores a goal from a Turnover.

Q3 05:53

BEHIND GiantsJake Barrett scores a behind from a Stoppage.

Q3 02:13

Andrew Phillips launches the Giants first score of the quarter with a hitoutto-advantage from a throw-in.

Q3 02:55

GOAL GiantsDevon Smith scores a goal from a Stoppage.

Q3 00:00

Q3 is now underway.

Q2 27:46

The only Giants player without a score involvement across the first half (besides the subs) was young ruckman Andrew Phillips, every other player has been involved in at least one scoring chain.

Q2 27:46

The Giants continue to dominate the clearances 25 to 10. It has been a collective effort with 14 individual players winning at least one clearance in the first half.

Q2 27:46

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

Q2 26:32

Inside 50s this quarter are 16 to four in favour of the Giants.

Q2 25:31

RUSHED BEHIND to Giants from a Stoppage.

Q2 23:13

GOAL GiantsJack Steele scores a goal from a Stoppage.

Q2 22:34

Lachie Whitfield has had nine disposals this quarter after just two in the opening term. Was the side's second leading ball winner against the Suns in Week 1.

Q2 20:39

Turnovers committed in the defensive halfEssendon (10) and GWS (four).

Q2 19:09

GOAL GiantsJeremy Cameron scores a goal from a Turnover.

Q2 16:30

GOAL GiantsJed Lamb scores a goal from a Turnover.

Q2 15:54

Essendon has had 18 chains starting in its defensive 50 and only three times has it managed to go from the back 50 to the forward 50. It has managed to score from two of these three entries however.

Q2 14:13

GOAL BombersJoe Daniher scores a goal from a Turnover.

Q2 12:38

Cam McCarthy has had six disposals, which have included two goals, one behind and two goal assists.

Q2 11:21

GOAL GiantsCam McCarthy scores a goal from a Kickin.

Q2 10:24

BEHIND BombersKyle Langford scores a behind from a Stoppage.

Q2 09:10

GWS winning inside 50s seven to one for the quarter. Also winning the clearance five to one.

Q2 09:51

BEHIND GiantsJeremy Cameron scores a behind from a Turnover.

Q2 08:03

RUSHED BEHIND to Bombers from a Turnover.

Q2 08:02

Zach Merrett already working hard, with 20 pressure acts for the game. The next most at Essendon has nine.

Q2 06:27

GOAL GiantsCam McCarthy scores a goal from a Turnover.

Q2 06:59

GWS dominating time in forward half 73 per cent27 per cent this quarter.

Q2 03:15

BEHIND GiantsCurtly Hampton scores a behind from a Stoppage.

Q2 00:00

Q2 is now underway.

Q1 25:20

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

Q1 25:34

Matt Buntine has so far won an equal gamehigh three intercept possessions, with his last one leading to Jack Steele's goal.

Q1 24:17

GOAL GiantsJack Steele scores a goal from a Turnover.

Q1 21:02

GOAL BombersJoe Daniher scores a goal from a Stoppage.

Q1 20:13

Adam Cooney finding plenty of ball in his first game in the red and black, with a team high eight disposals, unfortunately only three have hit the target.

Q1 18:13

The GWS Giants continue to dominate the stoppages winning the clearances 11 to three and scoring 3.3 from this source.

Q1 18:55

GOAL GiantsRhys Palmer scores a goal from a Stoppage.

Q1 11:09

GOAL GiantsStephen Coniglio scores a goal from a Stoppage.

Q1 10:28

Essendon has been sloppy early with three clanger kicks already committed from the defensive 50.

Q1 10:54

GOAL GiantsJed Lamb scores a goal from a Turnover.

Q1 10:36

RUSHED BEHIND to Giants from a Stoppage.

Q1 08:24

BEHIND GiantsJeremy Cameron scores a behind from a Stoppage.

Q1 06:32

GWS has won the first three clearances of the game, with two resulting in scores.

Q1 05:00

GOAL GiantsRhys Palmer scores a goal from a Stoppage.

Q1 03:50

BEHIND GiantsCam McCarthy scores a behind from a Stoppage.

Q1 03:42

Cam McCarthy booted three goals in just 22 minutes gametime last week. Misses his first shot here, but in the action early.

Q1 00:00

Q1 is now underway.

Q1 00:00

Tom Downie starts as one of GWS Giants' starting subs. He performed well in the ruck against the Suns last week, winning 12 hitouts with eight going to a teammates' advantage.

Q1 00:00

In their first NAB Challenge game, GWS Giants beat the Suns by 36 points, thanks largely to a six goal to two final term. They dominated statistically, winning 119 more disposals and 124 more uncontested possessions than the Suns.

Related

IF PART of a team's development comes in winning the games it should, then Greater Western Sydney showed on Friday night it was ready for what lies ahead in season 2015.

Against an understrength and largely underprepared Essendon line-up at Spotless Stadium, the Giants won the first three quarters, continued to try new things, and ran out 45-point victors in their second NAB Challenge match.

Despite the introduction of a handful of senior-listed Bombers to the side that played in Morwell last week, the Giants were too strong and did exactly what was expected of a side that, heading into its fourth AFL season, expects plenty of itself.

Although pre-season contests can invariably be taken with little significance – particularly ones involving Essendon this year – the Giants showed their scoring power in the 0.14.13 (97) to 0.8.4 (52) win.

In an imposing showing, the Giants at times had four talls inside their forward-50: a rotation involving ruckman Shane Mumford, the athletic Adam Tomlinson, straight-kicking Cam McCarthy, developing James Stewart and star Jeremy Cameron.

"To kick 10 goals in the first half of a shortened game was really pleasing, and we've got a lot of decisions to make about who's going to roll out next week for the starting [team]."

Jeremy Cameron was perhaps the only lowlight of the night for the Giants, after he was substituted out of the game in the second half with concussion. Close to the main break, the All Australian forward won a free kick after a heavy tackle, but in the process he was collected in the jaw.

The 21-year-old lined up and slotted his shot from the 50-metre line, but did not return after half-time after undergoing a concussion test.

Although the addition of a handful of senior players – including stand-in captain Brendon Goddard, midfielder David Zaharakis and recruit Adam Cooney – boosted Essendon's team, James Hird's men were unable to keep up with the hard-running and slick Giants.

With nearly half of the club's list unavailable as it awaits the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal's verdict, the Bombers struggled for fluency when moving the ball into attack and their inexperienced backline was under the pump throughout the contest.

The Bombers were more competitive in the third term, when they kicked four goals, but the absence of many key midfielders made it difficult at the stoppages, where the Giants took control.

Essendon could manage only 26 clearances to 43, and sent the ball inside 50 about half the amount of times of the Giants (55 to 30).

"I thought that we got beaten in the contested ball through the stoppages and centre of the ground early in the game and I think our guys lost a fair bit of confidence in their ability to move the ball after that," coach James Hird said after the game.

"But to their credit after half-time I think we played a lot better."

Of the standouts for the Bombers, youngster Jason Ashby again gave solid drive off half-back, Zach Merrett showed his shift into the midfield will be a near permanent role, and Kyle Langford did enough in glimpses to excite Essendon supporters about his future in the forward half.

Joe Daniher kicked two goals and competed hard in the forward line, but was reported for striking after a late attempt at spoiling a mark in the fourth term.

"It's hard for me to comment. You're watching it live and you're not really sure," Hird said.

"Obviously [I] didn't think there was a lot in it, but he's been reported and we'll deal with that during the week and hopefully there's not a lot in it and he gets to play round one."

WHAT WE LEARNEDGreater Western Sydney:Stephen Coniglio might be about to hit his straps. Although the Giants would have entered the game feeling good about their chances against the makeshift Bombers outfit, they still needed to get the job done. For Coniglio it was a chance to ramp up his preparations for the regular season after an injury-interrupted 2014. The speedy midfielder dominated through the midfield and finished with 19 disposals and a goal.

Essendon:Joe Daniher's hard work over summer improving his technique kicking for goal has paid some early dividends. After kicking 28.20 last year and spraying a few shots at goal, Daniher was mentored over pre-season by goalkicking great Matthew Lloyd in a bid to improve his accuracy. Daniher's first two shots at goal – one from in front and another from the pocket – sailed through nicely and the 21-year-old appeared to have a tighter routine. The only downside for Daniher was his report for striking in the final quarter.

NEW FACESGreater Western Sydney: Jake Barrett played his first game for the club after missing out last year and started as the substitute. The midfielder came on in the third quarter and got a taste for things with five disposals. Jack Steele again showed he seems a likely senior player in his first season after kicking two goals from 11 disposals and using his size and skill through the wing. The 19-year-old already shapes as a draft bargain after the Giants secured him as an academy player with pick 24 at last year's NAB AFL Draft.

Essendon: It was a chance for some of the club's new old faces to don the red and black colours for the first time, with Adam Cooney showing some good signs in the opening term. The former Western Bulldog collected eight touches in the first quarter and generated some buzz whenever he had the ball. Ex-Saints defender James Gwilt had a nervy moment early when his sprayed kick across goal resulted in a Giants goal, but he settled after that against some taller opponents. Both Cooney and Gwilt finished with 20 disposals.

SUBSTITUTESGreater Western Sydney: Tom Downie replaced Jeremy Cameron in the third quarter; Jake Barrett replaced Shane Mumford in the third quarter.Essendon: Orazio Fantasia replaced Shaun McKernan in the third quarter; James Magner replaced Mitch Clisby in the fourth quarter